Tian Jing didn't know what Li's mother was thinking that made her mood turn low, but she wouldn't allow it.
"Everyone has their own fate, that's what those who don't strive say, it's what lazy people say. Only after making an effort can you know if there's a possibility to change your originally set destiny."
"Look at now, isn't Li Min trying hard? You should try hard too. When your body recovers, you can be her support."
Li's mother, with Tian Jing's help, got into the pit. "You're right, I must also work hard. Today I feel lighter again, and our family's days have hope. We can't accept our fate, we must live well."
"That's right, better days are still ahead. Let's look forward to them."
...
On Li Zhengguo's side, people surrounded him, treating him like a great hero, as they headed to the team office.
The team office, situated beside the large camphor tree at the village entrance, was composed of several adobe and stone mixed houses.
Behind the team office were the mess hall and the educated youth dormitory. Further back, about a mile away, near a sharp bend in the Ku River at the village entrance, were the animal sheds. This location was on higher ground and close to the Ku River, making it convenient for raising livestock.
In the animal sheds, not only were there no cows, horses, or sheep, but not even a single pig. The production team leader had shamelessly refused to take on the task of raising pigs.
This was because the fodder fed to the pigs by the feeders and commune members was counted towards work points. If the land didn't yield more, the more work points earned, the lower the value of each work point became, so they refused to do it.
The large pot in the mess hall was already boiling water, and Butcher Wang was waiting. Upon seeing the spot where the wild boar had been killed, he praised Li Zhengguo.
"Amazing! A fatal blow with one shot. Even old hunters don't have that skill."
Li Zhengguo's earlobes turned slightly red. "Uncle Wang, you flatter me. It was just a coincidence."
"How could it be just a coincidence? You're too honest, kid."
"Hurry, hurry, the water is boiling."
"Alright, coming, coming."
The urging from the other side interrupted Butcher Wang's words, allowing Li Zhengguo to breathe a sigh of relief.
Team leader Ou Guochang patted Li Zhengguo's shoulder. "Our team's work point value is low, only four to five mao a year. This wild boar, calculated at 200 catties, will earn you 300 work points for your family."
"Thank you, Captain Uncle." Li Zhengguo accepted without politeness. This was hunted by his Tiantian, and he shouldn't refuse it. "What about those pumpkins?"
"The pumpkins can be set aside. You can give them to whomever you wish."
The team leader had already heard the exchange where Old Niu's wife had retorted to Zhang Fangcao. He had no good impression of Zhang Fangcao's family.
"I want to keep the pork liver and lard. My wife said the liver is for her mother to eat, to supplement blood, and the lard is for us to render oil."
Li Zhengguo seized the opportunity to convey Tian Jing's request.
"Good boy." The team leader burst out laughing. "Your young wife is excellent, kind and capable. Be careful, don't let her catch you out and report you, hahaha."
Someone had already informed him about the incident three days prior.
At that time, he had thought Li Zhengguo's wife was truly remarkable, swaying the entire village with a single sentence.
Er Laizi hadn't dared to leave his house for two days. If it wasn't for the meat distribution today, he would still be hiding at home. The commune members were in a good mood with meat to share, so they didn't dwell on it.
"I won't," Li Zhengguo replied to Captain Ou in all seriousness. "I am waiting for her."
"Hahaha." The captain's laughter grew louder, and he slapped Li Zhengguo's shoulder with force. "Good! A good man, a true man."
However, not many men could remain unmoved. Tian Jing's beauty had spread throughout the production team. Just a glimpse from Li's doorstep earlier made him feel that if he were thirty years younger, he too would make sour remarks like Er Laizi.
Li Zhengguo's lips curved slightly. It was worth it for Tiantian. Besides, the reborn Tiantian was so wonderful that he felt his existing affection could grow even stronger, and he could give her more and more.
Those gathered around watching the pig being butchered heard the captain's laughter, turned their heads, and seeing he was talking to Li Zhengguo, lost interest.
Li Zhengguo's paternal uncles glanced in their direction before looking away. The estrangement had lasted too long, and their feelings had faded.
Butcher Wang's movements were swift. Pigskin was also an ingredient, so the wild boar was scalded with boiling water and its hair scraped off. However, the inability to draw out the blood made many feel it was a pity.
The pork, cut into several large pieces, was laid out on the table in the mess hall.
Li Zhengguo picked first. He chose the pork liver and ten catties of pork. The commune members had no objections. No household had many work points, and being able to exchange two catties per family was considered generous.
Carrying these items, Li Zhengguo hurried home.
Zhang Fangcao watched the large piece of pork in Li Zhengguo's hand, her mouth watering.
She stood with her family members. Her sister-in-law, seeing her like this, thought of Zhang Fangcao's behavior over the past three years, and then of the pointing fingers at the Zhang family today. She needed to vent her accumulated frustration.
"Ten catties of pork, how many days will that last? Marinate it, smoke it, eat a little each day, it can last until the New Year, right?"
"What a pity that some people have no luck and are too late to be envious. They've even offended others and can't even get a piece of meat now."
Zhang Fangcao's eyes immediately reddened, and she looked at her mother pitifully.
Zhang's mother chided her daughter-in-law, "Others are speaking nonsense, why are you joining in?"
"Why can't I speak?"
Zhang's sister-in-law was unhappy. "I've lost all face. Others are pointing fingers at the Zhang family. Am I not a Zhang family member? Isn't Shitou a Zhang family member?"
Zhang's mother, hearing her voice rise and seeing the surrounding people laughing at them, angrily pushed her daughter. "Go to your Li family side, why are you standing here with us."
Originally, her mother speaking up for her made Zhang Fangcao very happy, and she even looked provocatively at her sister-in-law.
Unexpectedly, her mother suddenly pushed her. Unprepared, she couldn't stand steady. She staggered back, trying to regain her balance.
But the people behind her not only were unwilling to help her but also made way for her. In the end, Zhang Fangcao fell straight onto the ground.
A roar of laughter erupted from the crowd.
Zhang Fangcao, on the ground, her face pale.
Zhang's mother thought her daughter's face had changed color from being ridiculed, so she turned and queued up to receive her meat.
Then she heard someone exclaim, "Oh my, oh my, this, this is bleeding? Is Zhang Fangcao pregnant?"
"Oh dear, it must be. Quickly find a doctor, quickly call Li Aiguo!"
Zhang's mother finally panicked. She pushed through the surrounding people and saw the red flow from under her daughter, her face turning deathly pale.
Her daughter's first child with the Li family was a girl, and she had long been anxious to have a son to solidify her position. What, what should she do?
Hu Hongju had been in a particularly bad mood for the past two days. Yesterday, she caught her younger daughter-in-law slacking off for three years.
Today, her younger daughter-in-law had her face torn off by Old Niu's wife in front of everyone.
Now, she always felt that the people around her were pointing fingers at her.
But she still had to wait to receive her meat, and she wanted to pick the best piece.
Given her husband's status, it would be her turn soon. But just as it was about to be her family's turn, she heard someone calling her.
"Aiguo's mother, where is your Aiguo? His wife fell and miscarried."
Fell? Miscarried?
Hu Hongju felt that the year was unfavorable, with one thing after another happening.
She told her elder daughter-in-law to line up properly and to buy more meat to save for the New Year.
Only then did she turn and run towards the back. "What happened? How did she fall like that?"